Anyone who has passed through the Bell Room in recent weeks will have been struck by the extraordinary creativity on display. The space was once again transformed by the annual Detweiler Competition, one of our most anticipated creative highlights.
This year’s theme, ‘Stillness and Motion’, opened the door to imaginative interpretations across Art, Drama, Music and Creative Writing. The result was a vibrant and diverse collection of work, produced by boys across the Upper School and enjoyed by a large and captivated audience.
The standard was exceptionally high, with every entrant demonstrating remarkable talent and commitment. The winners across each category, and their work, can be explored in the interactive booklet below.
A Showcase of Talent
Director of Art, Mrs Florence Burbridge, praised the boys’ dedication and originality saying, “The boys have worked fantastically hard and proven themselves exceptionally talented. The variety and creativity this year has been outstanding. Each piece reflects not only technical skill, but real passion and craftsmanship.”
She added that the exhibition stands as a testament to the boys’ “long hours, dedication and boundless creativity.”
Upper Sixth Former Ben, who won the Art (Sculpture) category, drew inspiration from artists renowned for their bold, conceptual approaches. Ben explained that his research began with Ai Weiwei, whose provocative works “use shock and awe to challenge cultural significance”. This led him to explore the reconstructed ceramics of Yee Sookyoung and the expressive storytelling of Grayson Perry.
Ben described the process as both demanding and transformative. “I made two dozen vases, smashed them, and rebuilt them using the ideas from my A-Level portfolio. Winning has given me a boost of confidence I needed.”
He also highlighted the joy of seeing the whole community’s creativity brought together saying, “The arrangement of the art and the chance for everyone to see it is thrilling”.
Creative Writing Winner Freddie used his academic studies as a springboard for his piece. His story wove together influences from landscape paintings, ice‑skating scenes and the poem Effects by Alan Jenkins.
“I wanted to contrast stillness and motion,” Freddie told us, describing how visual research and literary themes naturally merged into his final work. He went on to say, “I’ve always enjoyed creative writing, but never expected to win a prize. To be recognised feels truly special.”
He added that the competition allowed him to see how much his classroom learning had shaped his voice as a writer.
Drama winner Fourth Former Riddha shared his pride at being recognised for work inspired by one of his favourite pastimes, chess. “I really enjoy playing chess. It’s an honour to win the Detweiler Competition as I put a lot of work into this.” The most rewarding part?
“Seeing how happy my parents were when they found out I’d won.”
The Detweiler Competition once again showcased the imagination and talent of our boys. Congratulations to all who entered, and especially to the winners, on an awe-inspiring display of creativity.
